An arrest in Burkina Faso that has garnered significant attention involves Mohamad Ishaq Kindo, a prominent Sunni imam and preacher. He was detained on Tuesday, May 26, in Ouagadougou by police officers and taken to an undisclosed location. This arrest occurred just two days after he publicly voiced criticism against a new bill on religious freedoms, which had been adopted on March 19, according to sources close to him and a Muslim organization he is affiliated with.

The Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina (FAIB) issued a statement mere hours following the incident, confirming that Imam Kindo, who also serves as the president of the country’s Sunni Ulema, was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon under “circumstances for which official motives have not yet been communicated.”

The FAIB further stated that it has “initiated the necessary steps with competent authorities to obtain precise information and a favorable outcome” regarding the situation in the capital, Ouagadougou.

Forceful apprehension

A close associate, who witnessed the arrest, reported that it took place around 2:00 PM (GMT and local time), just before the significant Muslim holiday of Eid El-Kébir. The operation was carried out by “security elements, including police and masked military personnel.”